Black Reign (album)
Black Reign | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | November 16, 1993 | |||
Recorded | November 1992 – September 1993 | |||
Studio |
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Motown[2] | ||||
Producer |
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Queen Latifah chronology | ||||
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Singles from Black Reign | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide | [6] |
Spin Alternative Record Guide | 7/10[7] |
Black Reign is the third
studio album by American rapper Queen Latifah, released in 1993.[8] Black Reign was her most successful album up to that point, peaking at number 60 on the Billboard 200.[9] The album also peaked at number fifteen on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The album sold in excess of 500,000 copies, achieving gold status.[10]
Critical reception
Trouser Press wrote that Latifah "rhymes over bottom-booming jeep beats and sings to sweet soul, dancehall and, in the case of 'Winki’s Theme,' a song for her late brother, a live jazz quartet."[11] The New York Times wrote: "As one of hip-hop's true vocal virtuosos, Queen Latifah tosses off articulate, quick-changing syncopations when she raps, slipping in and out of a Jamaican accent and singing melodic choruses in a sweet, strong voice."[12]
Track listing
No. | Title | Producer | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | " Heavy D, and KRS-One)" | Tony Dofat | 5:04 |
5. | "4 The D.J.'s (Interlude)" | S.I.D. | 1:38 |
6. | "Bring The Flavor" | Tony Dofat | 3:25 |
7. | "Coochie Bang..." | S.I.D. | 3:46 |
8. | "Superstar" | S.I.D. | 3:56 |
9. | "No Work" | Kay Gee | 2:51 |
10. | "Just a Flow (Interlude)" | S.I.D. | 1:30 |
11. | "Just Another Day..." | S.I.D. | 4:29 |
12. | "U.N.I.T.Y." | Kay Gee & Mufi | 4:11 |
13. | "Weekend Love (featuring Tony Rebel)" | Kay Gee | 4:09 |
14. | "Mood Is Right" | S.I.D. | 3:30 |
15. | "Winki's Theme" | Queen Latifah | 5:29 |
Total length: | 55:53 |
Music videos
- "U.N.I.T.Y."
- "Just Another Day"
- "Black Hand Side"
- "I Can't Understand"
- "Weekend Love"
Influence
The album was a major influence for young adult novelist Jason Reynolds,[13] who was inspired to start writing poetry when he discovered Black Reign at nine years old.[14]
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United States (RIAA)[10] | Gold | 503,000[15] |
References
- ^ a b "Black Reign – Queen Latifah | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ "Queen Latifah, Black Reign (Motown): The recording..." OrlandoSentinel.com.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (February 1994). "Consumer Guide Album". The Village Voice. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6. MUZE. p. 711.
- NME. p. 41. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ^ The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. 2004. p. 669.
- ^ Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 318–319.
- ^ "Queen Latifah | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ "Queen Latifah". Billboard.
- ^ a b "American album certifications – Queen Latifah – Black Reign". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ "Queen Latifah". Trouser Press. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
- ^ Pareles, Jon (February 22, 1994). "Review/Pop; Queen Latifah, Tough but Kind (Published 1994)" – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ Brown, Lesley-Ann (August 22, 2015). "The Graceful Power of Novelist Jason Reynolds". NBC News. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
- ^ Foster, Jordan (April 17, 2017). "Jason Reynolds: From Kid Poet to Award-Winning Author". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
- ^ Concepcion, Mariel (June 9, 2007). "A bad rap?". Billboard. Vol. 119, no. 23. pp. 24–25. Retrieved February 3, 2022 – via Internet Archive.